KiHae: Snow (#8)

This isn't necessarily AU (well it is... idk what to call it). I guess it's unrealistic in that the guys aren't in Super Junior. I've seen people do it all the time (high school fics, for example), but I don't know the proper word for it. I'm trying out different writing styles/methods, basically. I'm also ignoring their obvious age difference (since they wouldn't really be in the same class)... blah, bear with me, just read and see. I'll explain ages and stuff at the end.

So to sum up, unlike my other one-shots, this one isn't based on their SuJu activities... if you know what I mean. And it sorta actually tells an actual story. Blah.

Title: Snow (#8)
Word Count: 4263
Rating: PG-13?
Started/Finished: 12.13.09 / 12.14.09
Music Muse: Yesung, "Trap of North" (NamHanSanSung) [cho-min, I love you for making me listen to this song]
Description: In which Kibum appreciates the pureness and beauty of snow.

Snow

It had begun in the most cliche way.

"Class, I would like to introduce you to the new transfer student." Donghae's weary eyes, which had been gazing at the outside window absentmindedly, suddenly found themselves snapping to the front of the room.

He almost found himself laughing on the spot. There, in front of him, was a rather shy looking student, his glasses probably proving more prominent than the rest of his face. The only adjective Donghae could think of was "goofy," to the point where he wanted to cry tears of laughter. He even had the school uniform tucked in!--and while, sure, that was the school mandate, no one ever tucked in their shirt.

"I'm Kim Kibum," the boy muttered so quietly that he had been asked to repeat himself. "I moved from Los Angeles. My parents are Korean though, so I can understand--"

"Choi sonsaeng-nim!" Donghae interrupted, turning to their teacher. "Where's 'Los Angeles'?"

"America. And Lee Donghae, don't interrupt, I'd have expected better manners from you!" The teacher sighed as Donghae shrugged and returned his gaze to the window once more. "Kim Kibum, I would hate to have to put you next to Lee Donghae, but it's the only open seat."

"It's fine," Kibum said politely, and within minutes he was seated. Yet the second the teacher resumed her lessons, Kibum immdiately found himself assaulted by Donghae's questions.

"So do you speak English? Ah, that's so cool! I know some English, but our English teacher always scolds me because--"

"Lee Donghae!"

"Sorry." But Donghae was clearly not sorry, because moments later he continued once more. "Ah, so do you know anyone here yet? You should sit with me at lunch, I could introduce you to a few--"

"Ah, sorry... Donghae-ssi?" Kibum turned to the boy to his right, and with his most earnest grin he gave a slight nod. "I want to pay attention in class. Can we talk later?"

Kibum would always remember the first time he'd seen those hurt, puppy eyes that Donghae had given in return. And though he really didn't know why Donghae was so hurt, when the boy had replied with "Oh, all right" Kibum had never felt more guilty in his life.

And that was how Donghae began to fit into the picture.



After class, Donghae did not wait for Kibum. Not the latter had been expecting him to, but the behavior in general had been rather strange; the second they'd been dismissed Donghae had rushed out of the classroom, not even allowing Kibum to ask where they could meet up for lunch.

As a result, when their lunch break came, he had been forced to wander the campus in an attempt to look for a boy he only barely knew. The task was hard; several times he found himself stopping a boy who only looked similar to Donghae, and as a result he found himself feeling rather embarrassed and apologizing repeatedly. The only thing Kibum really knew well was Dongha'es puppy eyes, which he surely wouldn't be wearing during lunch break.

Just when Kibum had given up hope altogether, he found the vaguely familiar voice of Donghae ringing out to him. And without hesitation, Kibum hurried his way over to a table in the corner of the room.

"Ah, Hyukkie, this is the kid I was talking about." A new boy, one Kibum did not recognize, gave a grunt and a slight wave in his direction.

"I'm Hyukjae," the boy gave as his introduction. "Donghae says you're Kibummie."

Kibum laughed, turning to Donghae. "Nicknames, already?--but I go by Kibum."

"He gives everyone nicknames," Hyukjae explained, earning a pout and a cry of frustration from Donghae.

"Ah, Hyukkie, I can talk for myself you know!" Kibum could only laugh, and without any pangs of awkwardness he allowed himself to sit down with the two. The three talked for a bit, and before long Kibum found himself enjoying their presence. They weren't obnoxious (though Donghae bordered it, Kibum decided), but they were still rather entertaining.

About halfway through lunch they were joined by a boy called Sungmin (Sungminnie, to Donghae), who was in the grade above them. Kibum found himself liking Sungmin too; e was definitely unlike the other two in that he was shyer and not so loud, yet there was something about him that still made him prominent and sure of himself. He also seemed to take a great liking for Kibum, much as Donghae and Hyukjae had, though Kibum couldn't really explain that one.

Kibum wasn't really close to any of them, but by the time lunch ended he had felt slightly more secure with himself.



Kibum didn't really see himself as growing closer to Donghae until he'd seen his first snowfall in Korea. It wasn't that Kibum had never seen snow; he just hadn't been expecting it. And while for the most part he'd dressed accordingly, he'd accidentally forgotten mittens.

And Donghae, having noticed this, decided to offer the new student one of his mittens.

"Ah, hyung," began Kibum, "you're going to get cold."

"And you're cold right now," Donghae insisted, dangling the right mitten in his face. "Besides, at least one hand will be warm."

Kibum sighed. The boy's logic was rather faulty--did it really matter if one hand wasn't freezing so long as the other one still was--but in the end Kibum relented and put it on.

"Kibummie... that's a right-hand glove."

"But my left hand's colder, hyung."

"Put it on your right hand!" Relatively surprised at the inclination of tone, Kibum rolled his eyes and placed the mitten on his other hand. But what had hadn't expected was both of his hands feeling warmth, and for three or four steps he could not explain this phenomenon for the life of him.

But then, when he felt Donghae walking slightly closer than he normally did, and when he'd tried to pull away, the realization that Donghae was holding onto his hand came instantly.

"Kibummie, don't be an idiot," Donghae muttered, pulling his hand back towards him. "You're going to get cold, and so will I."

"It'd be only me if it weren't for this genius idea of yours."

"Shush, it was my idea."

In the end, Kibum had to admit he didn't mind. Even when Sungmin caught the two of them in the act and started spewing teasing proclamations of their love, and even as he felt the red rise in his cheeks and watched Donghae scold the boy for his ludicrousness, he didn't mind.



That was how it had begun, and that was how the two had gone closer. Or at least, that was what Kibum believed to be the first sign towards being closer. Realistically, he knew it'd probably been a little more subtle and progressive than that.

About half a year later, the four were sitting yet again at the table in which Kibum had first stumbled upon Hyukjae and Sungmin. But instead of that day a year before, where the four were laughing and talking about nothing of utmost importance, now they were more solemn, attempting to console a seemingly wounded Sungmin.

"Ah, Sungminnie, you don't even know what he really thinks about you!"

"Does he even know you exist?" asked Hyukjae, earning him a sharp fist to the shoulder.

"Ignore him," continued Donghae, turning to Kibum. "Bummie, help me here."

Kibum paused. "Uh... why do you like hyung to begin with? How did you meet?"

"He's not my hyung," Sungmin said quietly. "He's in the year below you all. And I caught him in the library playing Starcraft. You're not supposed to use the computers there for recreational purposes, so I was going to tell him to get off. But then, when I told him, he gave me this goofy smile and said, 'Ah, hyung, you wouldn't tell on me right?'"

"Did you?" asked Hyukjae, earning him another punch.

"Ignore him," Donghae said yet again. "Anyway... so why are you depressed?"

Sungmin sighed. "I'm letting someone I don't even know get the best of me, Hae! I can't stop thinking about that ridiculously goofy smile of his, and the way his lips moved when he talked to me, and--"

"Hyung," began Kibum, "do you even know his name?"

"..."

Immediately Donghae burst into laughter. "What? Sungminnie, how could you not even know something like that! If you're that head over heels for him, how hard is it to ask the guy his name?"

"That's what makes it so bad!" Sungmin yelled, burying his face into his arms once more. "Whatever, just forget it. I'll manage."

"Hyung..." began Kibum, but Donghae managed to cut him off.

"That does it, Sungminnie! As of this very moment, the three of us will help you make him yours!"

Amidst Sungmin's sudden cheers of surprise and glee, Kibum and Hyukjae's protests remained unnoticed. And that was how Sungmin began to fit into the picture.



When it had all began, Kibum would never have guessed that befriending Donghae would imply playing matchmaker for Sungmin. But then again, there were many things Kibum hadn't predicted then, like how he had a sudden desire for another snowfall to envelope the school grounds. But that was an entirely different story on its own.

"If it's Hae's idea," began the disgruntled boy, "why am I the one doing the dirty work?" And true to the boy's words, it was Kibum--not Donghae--who was situated at the computers awaiting mystery boy's arrival. Supposedly Donghae was wandering the halls with Sungmin trying to stalk mystery boy, even though it was pointless since they all knew he'd end up in the library eventually. And as for Hyukjae -- well, Kibum made it a point to ask the boy later how he'd managed to escape duties.

The actual meeting of mystery boy was less climatic than preparing for the moment had been. In all honesty Donghae and Sungmin had failed, because without warning mystery boy had taken the seat next to Kibum. And after no word on Sungmin or Donghae, Kibum figured he would just carry out the deed altogether.

"What's your name?"

Mystery boy looked perplexed, perhaps as a result of having been interrupted from his Starcraft. "Ah... it's Cho Kyuhyun."

"Kyuhyun, then," said Kibum, nodding his head in improvisation. "Ah, well see... you're not supposed to be using the computers for recreational purposes."

"Hyung, you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Besides, you aren't even using your computer. At least I'm not depriving someone of a free seat."

Kibum laughed and nodded, admiring Kyuhyun's cheeky response.



Donghae and Sungmin, apparently, had run into a mob of girls on their way to the library, thus preventing their entrance Kibum had been oh-so-anticipating. Nevertheless Sungmin was pleased to have learned his name, but though perhaps more on excitement than on an purposeful intent of fail, Sungmin had called out mystery boy's name the next moment he saw him.

And for some reason, Kyuhyun did not question Sungmin's mysterious knowledge of his name.

"Hyung, what's your name?"

"Sungmin! You should sit with us for lunch!" And despite Hyukjae's eye-rolling and obvious distaste for their lunch crew's increasingly growing size, Kyuhyun accepted the offer.

And that was how Kyuhyun began to fit into the picture.



Donghae's plan was halfway done, or at least that's what he had decided to tell Kibum. Really, knowing someone's name was probably a fiftieth of the work. But the two were actually growing closer to each other, which Donghae claimed made up the other twenty-four fiftieths.

It was about two months later when Donghae declared the second half of their plan be enacted. And both to Kibum's excitement and misery, it had been snowing.

"It'll be the perfect coffee date!" Donghae exclaimed with wishful eyes. "We'll tell Kyuhunnie that Sungmin wanted to meet him at the coffee shop, and we'll tell Sungminnie that it was all Kyuhyunnie's idea."

"I still don't see how that's going to bring them together as a couple," Hyukjae pointed out, earning him a fist to his shoulder. Kibum only shrugged and gave the boy his condolences, obviously choosing to keep his mouth shut to avoid being hurt.

To no one's surprise, Kibum found himself acting as a spy on Sungmin's "date." But at least this time, Donghae had been there with him.

"You think it will work?" Kibum asked his hyung, shivering slightly. "It's not like anyone's going to be confessing feelings or anything. They'll probably see it as an outing."

"Sungminnie's going to confess," said Donghae, nodding his head in pure confidence.

"How do you know?"

"Because he messes up a lot like that." And sure enough, within maybe fifteen minutes of Sungmin and Kyuhyun talking, Sungmin had spilled his beans. And much to Donghae's utter excitement (perhaps more so than Sungmin himself), Kyuhyun had accepted his hyung's feelings.

"Be a little more discreet, will you?" Kibum snapped, pulling the boy down once more. "Try not to get your cover blown, please."

Donghae sighed. "Fine, Kibummie -- wait, you okay?"

"...yeah...? Why?"

"You're shivering."

"Of course I am, it's cold outside if you hadn't noticed!" Kibum rolled his eyes, turning away. "Anyway, our job is done. I didn't think you'd actually pull it off, yet... you did."

"Do you want my jacket, Bummie?"

"No."

Donghae pouted, and for the second time Kibum found himself staring into hurt, puppy eyes and welling up with guilt. "Is it because you hate me?"

"No."

"Yo," said a voice suddenly, causing Donghae to jump to his feet instantly. Kibum merely turned his gaze upward, and he was relatively unsurprised to find Sungmin and Kyuhyun staring down at the both of them. Though with Kibum's volume and Donghae's eagerness... Kibum supposed it was to be expected.

"Ah, Sungminnie... funny seeing you here," said Donghae with a laugh.

"I hate you, by the way!" Sungmin shouted suddenly, pointing his finger at Donghae threateningly. "I knew said you were going to help, but this... this was going too far! You made me make a fool out of myself in front of Kyu, and I would so murder you right now if things hadn't gone in my general favor!"

"But they did!" protested Donghae, pointing at Sungmin as he leaned against the taller boy's frame. "So why are you angry?"

"He's just shocked that you dared to spy on him," Kyuhyun explained quietly. Then, without breaking the seriousness in his face, he turned to Kibum. "Sungmin's done his fair share, so we both agree it's about time you've done yours."

"What?" asked Kibum in surprise, ignoring the surprised looks from Donghae. "I dunno what you're talking about."

"Nor do I!" Donghae yelled. "What's going on?"

"A plan behind a plan!" Sungmin replied excitedly. "Ah, and Hae here thought he was the one pulling all the strings...."

Kibum turned to Donghae, hoping the other boy had a clue what was going on -- but by the look on Donghae's face Kibum knew he wasn't the only one not in the know. But apparently Donghae thought he was, especially after what Kyuhyun had said. But what did he mean? -- what fair share? When had he made an agreement with Sungmin and Kyuhyun? What had Sungmin done, exactly?

...well, aside from telling Kyuhyun his true feelings. But what did that have to do with...?

...oh no.

"You've got it all wrong!" Kibum suddenly found himself yelling, regretting it the second the words had left his mouth.

"So you were in this too?" Donghae asked, turning onto Kibum. "Bummie, tell me, what's going on? Please?"

"I... I don't really know," said Kibum, turning back to the other two. "But... I have an idea... and no, you've got it wrong."

"Kibum," Sungmin said with a grin, nodding. "It's all right. We all know. It's obvious. Even when you don't realize it. Even Kyu knows." And much to Kibum's chagrin, Kyuhyun nodded in affirmation.

"Knows what?" persisted Donghae, latching onto Kibum's wrist before the boy could turn away. "Bummie, tell me!"

"Don't you ever wonder why Kibum-ah always dresses lightly in the cold, Hae?"

"Shut up!" Kibum roared, pulling himself free from Donghae's grasp. "It's... it's not like that at all...."

"Not like what...?" asked Donghae.

Sungmin sighed. "Are you that thick, Hae, really? Too busy playing matchmaker with me? Didn't even notice poor Kibum-ah here?"

"Hyung, stop," breathed Kibum, but Sungmin shook his head.

"Ah, Hae's had too much fun humiliating me, why can't I humiliate him for a change?"

"Because you're humiliating me, too," Kibum said quietly, so quietly that it had almost gone unheard. Sungmin's grin immediately dropped after that; Donghae himself had missed Kibum's remark completely, and if it hadn't been for Kyuhyun's sudden intervention the clueless boy would surely have begun pestering Kibum to repeat it.

After some time, Sungmin bowed his head. "Ah, sorry Kibum-ah... I guess I was having too much fun."

"But it's really not like that," said Kibum, shaking his head. "Hyung's too busy being friends with Hyukjae. He's been here before me. I shouldn't intrude on something like that."

"Hyukkie?" asked Donghae, but not before Kibum turned his back to them all and sprinted away. The three boys watched as his figure retreated into the distance. Even when Kibum tripped over his own feet and fell face first into the snow, none of them bothered to pursue him.

Two regretful pairs of eyes turned to Donghae, who apparently still had no idea what was going on. And perhaps in an attempt to finish his revenge, though perhaps more so to prevent the situation from growing any worse, Sungmin sighed and let loose the truth.

"Hae... he likes you."

And that was how Hyukjae began to fit into the picture.



When it had all began, Kibum would never have guessed that befriending Donghae would imply breaking his own heart, even though he was completely in denial. But there were many things Kibum couldn't have predicted then, like how he suddenly had the urge to take up boxing so he could beat many certain people to a bloody pulp. But that was an entirely different story on its own.

A whole week had passed with Kibum avoiding the first boy he'd ever known at this school. It wasn't really Donghae's fault; not only was Kibum unsure whether Sungmin was right, but he also wasn't sure how to face the boy. He felt embarrassed and humiliated, and it was only because of that that Kibum understood how Sungmin had felt that night.

It wasn't like Donghae was making an attempt to see him, anyway. Though they sat next to each other in their fist class of the day, they made no attempts in talking. To his knowledge, Donghae had made no complaints when Kibum decided to sit with other classmates of his. As far as Kibum knew, Donghae no longer cared about him.

It was about halfway into the second week when something finally did happen. He'd been eating lunch with their classmate Ryeowook as he'd always done since recently. In a way Ryeowook reminded him of Sungmin, though much quieter (though, as Kibum had to remind himself, at one point he labeled Sungmin as quiet and shy, too). He was always leaning into a boy who had introduced himself as Yesung, and the two conversed much in the same way Kyuhyun and Sungmin did. It was a very subtle and laidback relationship, something Kibum both liked and admired.

But it was on that particular day when he received a sudden visit from Hyukjae. Without even asking Yesung and Ryeowook (not that he needed their permission, though), Hyukjae grabbed Kibum by his uniform's collar and dragged him, quite literally, out of the cafeteria and into the cold outdoors.

"Babo!" Hyukjae yelled, who seemed to be trying his best to ignore the sudden cold that now enveloped them both. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing? It's cold...."

"And so are you! You know Hae's been a mess since that day you decided to start ignoring him!"

"He's the one ignoring me!"

Hyukjae shrugged. "Then you're both at fault. And why are you so angry at Sungmin, anyway? He was trying to do you a favor. We all were!"

"What kind of favor was that? You all embarrassed me and forced my feelings upon him!" And it was only then, as the words left his mouth, that Kibum realized he'd said 'his feelings.' Instinctively. Not 'feelings Sungmin had assumed.'

"You're just like Sungmin!" roared Hyukjae. "If no one had forced the both of you, neither of you would have gotten anywhere!" Kibum said nothing, only turning away. The snow looked wonderful today, he thought to himself, in an attempt to think of anything except what was right in front of him. But the snow reminded him too much of Donghae; pity how much he disliked seeing something so naturally beautiful because of someone so beau--no, wait, no....

"It doesn't matter, anyway," said Kibum bitterly. "He likes you anyway, doesn't he? You've been around longer, you've been his friend longer... I can't really compete. I wish I'd just stayed as the new kid who never made friends. That might've been easier."

Silence fell upon the two of them for a moment, perhaps in the guise of a blanket of snow. Kibum did his best not to look at Hyukjae, afraid to see something he wouldn't like -- but eventually his curiosity got the best of him. And, much to his predictions, when he turned the boy was fuming.

"Compete? Hae doesn't like me, you idiot. It's you that's got him mesmerized."

"W-what?" stuttered Kibum, turning away yet again. "I-I mean, no, you... you've got it all wrong. He's barely known me. And what about those love taps he keeps giving you?"

"Love taps?" asked Hyukjae, blank-eyed. "You mean his punches? You call those love taps?"

"...yeah?"

"Those freaking hurt," Hyukjae said, absentmindedly bracing his shoulder. "But that's hardly the point! Did you ever wonder where I was every time Donghae was going on with one of his stupid plans? I was doing you a favor -- though I admit, the first one I just failed terribly. Fangirls are hard to anticipate...."

"So he doesn't like you?" Kibum asked again. He couldn't explain why really, but when Hyukjae had shook his head in reply he felt a wave of relief sweep over him.

"Babo... now go make up and make out, all right? I'm done playing matchmaker -- and that goes for both you and Sungmin!"

"Ah, mianhae, I'll get right on it! -- but can I ask one more question?"

Hyukjae sighed. "If you make it quick. Lunch is ending soon."

"Ah, right... well, you said Hae didn't like you. But you never said if you liked Hae."

If Hyukjae had lost his guard for an instant Kibum had missed it entirely.

"Another time," said Hyukjae. "Now go back in there before I do something you'll regret."



Much in the same manner Hyukjae had dragged him outside, Kibum had forced Donghae to his feet and brought him to the courtyard. The snow was still continuing to fall, much as it had been moments before. And for some reason, Kibum found himself appreciating the pureness and beauty of the white snow much more than he had only moments earlier.

There was still Donghae to deal with. He wasn't really sure about his own feelings, though he couldn't deny that he did feel something for him. Perhaps not in the obsessive sense like Sungmin towards Kyuhyun, and perhaps not as subtle as Ryeowook towards Yesung. He did like the holding hands and the talking to him and the...

...ah well, screw it.

"Hae," Kibum said quietly. "I have to tell you something."

The response, Kibum had to admit, had not been expected. "I know. Sungmin told me. And you're an idiot for running on me." Kibum only laughed, his gaze lingering on his laugh as its airy ghost melted into the cold air around them. For all it had taken to get here, for all the weeks Kibum had spent avoiding this... well, this hadn't been expected.

"Anticlimatic, isn't it? Donghae said with a laugh. "I guess that's to be expected. It's not like we're professional actors or anything. Not everything's like it is in the movies."

"I guess," Kibum said.

Moments passed in their silence. The seconds continued to tick towards the end of lunch, where the two would be forced apart to head to their respective classes. But to them, or at least in that moment, seconds passed into hours, hours into days. The only thing they could do was sit and watch the snow fall peacefully....

They didn't need to speak any words. The silence was assumed and understood by both. Everything they had experienced was crashing yet unfolding before them, laying before them an unclear yet certain path to their future. But neither minded, really; after all, their beginning was cliche enough; who was to say onwards couldn't be, either?



When it had all began, Kibum would never have guessed that befriending Donghae would imply going on dates with him and being his unofficial boyfriend. But there were many things Kibum couldn't have predicted then, like how the innocent question "Hae, I'm cold. Can I borrow a glove?" could suddenly mean "Hae, shut up. Just hold me already."

But that was an entirely different story on its own.

END
KiHae: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

(SuJu Archive)

I fail miserably for starting in Donghae's POV and then forgetting about him completely. I also fail miserably at happy endings. *returns to angst*

And blahhh why can't I write my second chapter properly? Or maybe I'm trying to make it too perfect.

(For reference: Sungmin and Yesung are in the same year. Next year is Donghae, Hyukjae, Kibum, Ryeowook. Then one year down is Kyuhyun)

I hope you don't brick me for this. Uhm, hope you enjoyed? *bows down in apology to EunHae fans... will write for you one day, promise*